News/Blog

Inspiring Arizona letter to the editor

Posted by Convention of States Project on May 18, 2015

The following was written by Convention of States volunteer Marty Brown and published in Today's News-Herald.

After reading the remarks from Duane Meyers and Norma Lembach and others in recent letters to the editor, I am struck by their compassion for patriotism and devotion to ideology. Although opinions may differ, they all share common ground. We’re all concerned about our national condition: the corruption and dysfunction by the political class, expanding bureaucratic regulations, and special interest’s influence in D.C. In a recent survey of the American public it was determined up to 90 percent of Americans distrust federal government. I think for good reason.

The federal government has over-reached its constitutionally established boundaries and has its tentacles in almost every aspect of our lives. Can you think of anything that the federal government does not try to regulate? Does anyone believe that Washington will fix the problem? This is not a partisan issue. Washington D.C. will never voluntary relinquish meaningful power, no matter who is elected. I believe Washington, D.C., is broken and will not fix itself. The federal government is spending this country into the ground, seizing power from the states and taking liberty from the people.

The Founders believed that the structures of a limited government would provide the greatest protection of liberty. Not only were there to be checks and balances between the branches of the federal government, power was to be shared between the states and federal government, with the latter only exercising those powers specifically granted in the Constitution.

It’s time to rein in our out-of-control Federal government, and return the power to the people of the states. The correct path can be found within Article V of the United States Constitution. “The legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states.” This is referred to as a “Convention of the States”. Our founding father expected the states to exercise Article V by convening a Convention of the States when the federal government exceeded its constitutional limits, precisely as it has today.

The delegates at such a convention would have the power to propose amendments to the Constitution that would curb the abuses of the federal government. Article V of the Constitution gives them this power.

In Arizona, we passed the Convention of the States Application, HCR 2003, in the House, thanks to the efforts of local Representative Sonny Borrelli and Senator Kelli Ward, but Senate President Andy Biggs wouldn’t allow it into committee or onto the senate floor for a democratic vote, effectively killing it until the next legislative session. Anyone see a problem here? Nationally, thirty-three states have signed or entered applications for an Article V Convention. Arizona remains among a minority of states which have not yet done so.

Our current path leads to the escalating power of an irresponsible centralized government, ultimately resulting in our loss of liberty and the financial ruin of generations of Americans. The other path leads to the restoration of liberty and an American renaissance. We the people can fix the government. We just have to have the courage to stand up and do it.

Join with your fellow Americans. Urge and empower state legislators to call a convention of states. It’s not a dream. It’s a reality. But it’s up to you to make it happen.

About Us

Citizens concerned for the future of their country, under a federal government that's increasingly bloated, corrupt, reckless and invasive, have a constitutional option. We can call a Convention of States to return the country to its original vision of a limited federal government that is of, by and for the people.

The Convention of States (COS) Project was founded by Citizens for Self-Governance for the purpose of stopping the runaway power of the federal government. We believe Washington, D.C., is broken and will not fix itself. The federal government is spending this country into the ground, seizing power from the states and taking liberty from the people.